New York1, NY (May 16, 2002) -- Scholastic Book Fairs, a division of global children's publishing and media company Scholastic Inc., today announced the Grand Prize winners of its 16th annual Kids Are Authors program, a national book-writing contest open to teams of student writers in grades K-8. The two Grand Prize winners - one in each category of fiction and non-fiction - will be published by Scholastic and sold at Scholastic Book Fairs nationwide starting this fall. The 2002 Kids Are Authors fiction winner is A Band of Coyotes, by 4th grade students from Mabel-Canton Elementary School in Mabel, Minnesota, and the non-fiction winner is Who Let the Cat out of the Bag, by 5th grade students from Newcastle Avenue Elementary School in Reseda, CA. This year, Scholastic Book Fairs is also naming a special America Remembers 9/11 commemorative winner, September 12th…We Knew Everything Would Be All Right, by a team of 1st graders from Kennett, Missouri, which will also be published and sold at the Fairs.
 
The 2002 Kids Are Authors competition attracted thousands of entries from teams of students across the U.S. and abroad, who wrote and illustrated 21-29 page books on a topic of their choosing. Judges for the contest are professionals from the fields of publishing, business, education, art and literature, including Caldecott and Newbery award-winning authors. The panel of judges selecting this year's grand prize winners included noted children's book authors and illustrators Jack Gantos; Betsy and Ted Lewin; Anne Mazer; and Betsy Hearne.
 
In addition to becoming published authors, winners' schools receive $2,000 in merchandise from the Scholastic Book Fairs Instructional Resources Catalog and 100 copies of the finished books. The winning students will receive a medal, a framed certificate, and a copy of the published book at an official award ceremony held at their school in the fall.
 
"Scholastic Book Fairs is proud to sponsor the Kids Are Authors program. Each year, we are impressed with the high quality of work that kids produce, creating imaginative, compelling books," said David Krishock, President of Scholastic Book Fairs. "Our goal is to cultivate their reading, writing and artistic skills, fire their creativity, and nurture their aspirations for the future, whether to become published authors or to achieve some other dream."
 
This year's Grand Prize Winners are:
 
Fiction
A Band of Coyotes
Written and illustrated by 4th grade students from Mabel-Canton Elementary School, Mabel, Minnesota Teacher/Project Coordinator: Ruth Ann Sacquitne
 
Tap your toes and clap your hands as a band of coyotes leads a musical menagerie on a delightful romp through lessons of nouns and numbers. The rollicking, rhythmic verse makes for a great read aloud while the intriguing paper collage illustrations invite a closer look. Come hear the band and join in the fun!
 
Nonfiction Winner
Who Let the Cat out of the Bag
Written and illustrated by 5th grade students from Newcastle Avenue Elementary, Reseda, California Teacher/Project Coordinator: Lizette Madruga
 
It's time to let the cat out of the bag! Idioms can be fun as shown through the unique and intricate collage illustrations designed with handmade paper. The illustrations combine beautifully with the text to bring new clarity and understanding to the often confusing language of idioms. This delightful book provides a great springboard for discussion of the true meaning of some of our most colorful phrases.
 
America Remembers Commemorative Award Winner
September 12th…We Knew Everything Would Be All Right
Written and illustrated by 1st grade students from H. Byron Masterson Elementary, Kennett, Missouri Teacher/Project Coordinator: Darlene Robertson
 
On September 11th horrific events occurred, yet through the simple text and vibrant art of first graders, we are reminded that the world continued the next day. On each page children experience the comforts of ordinary routines, such as their teacher reading books to them, having homework and recess, and knowing that 2 + 2 still equals 4. This poignant message of hope reassures us all that even after bad things happen, tomorrow always brings a new day.
 
Twenty-five entries are Honorable Mention winners, and their schools receive $200 in merchandise from Scholastic Book Fairs Instructional Resources Catalog.
 
Kids Are Authors is one of the most highly regarded writing competitions for children in the country. Kids Are Authors requires students to develop their entries in groups of three or more under the supervision of a teacher or other faculty member, who serves as the Project Coordinator. The student team must illustrate all entries. Entries are judged on originality, content, overall appeal to children, quality of artwork and the compatibility of text and illustrations. Thousands of Kids Are Authors books have been sold through in-school book fairs since the program began.
 
Schools interested in participating in Kids Are Authors can find information on the program as well a complete listing of the winners online at http://www.scholastic.com/kidsareauthors.
 
Scholastic Book Fairs partners with schools to hold more than 100,000 fairs each year in all 50 states that reach more than 30 million children. A Scholastic Book Fair is an exciting school-wide literacy event geared to help children in pre-school through 9th grade become lifelong learners. School employees and parent/teacher organizations work with Scholastic Book Fair representatives to create successful book sale events on school premises that give students, teachers, and parents access to thousands of the best books and educational items at affordable prices. The product selection includes the newest in children's books, award-winners, classics, and other interactive products to motivate and excite children to become devoted learners. In addition to building enthusiasm for reading, book fairs build revenue for schools. Participating schools use the funds raised to purchase essential classroom resources and support important school projects.
 
About Scholastic Corporation:
Scholastic is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books. As a global children's publishing and media company serving the needs of parents, teachers, and children, Scholastic provides proprietary book and software distribution through school book clubs, school book fairs and to classrooms, as well as through the retail trade. Since 1920, Scholastic has created quality educational materials for schools and has expanded its reach to include the distribution of books, software, toys, online learning services and television programming directly to the home. Scholastic's Grolier division is the leading print and online publisher of children's reference materials and the leader in children's direct-to-home book clubs. Internationally, Scholastic operates wholly owned companies in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, The Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Kingdom. The U.S. Scholastic web site is a leading provider of educational services online for parents, teachers and children.

Contacts: